New WASH Facilities In School Excite Ogun Communities

Vivian Ihechu
Mar, Wed, 2024

Health

New WASH facilities in school excite Ogun communities

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Learners and educators at LG Primary School, Adie Owe, Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government of Ogun State, have expressed their excitement at the inauguration of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities provided by Nestlé Nigeria PLC.

The facilities will serve no fewer than 500 individuals including educators, learners in the school and several families within the community.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LG Primary School Adie Owe is a beneficiary of Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK).

N4HK is a school-based nutrition and health education program built on four pillars: Healthy Nutrition, Healthy Hydration, Physical Activity and Hygiene.

Nestlé recognises hygiene as a crucial component of the N4HK programme and affirming the difficulty of hygiene practice and education in the absence of basic water and sanitation facilities, Nestlé’s investment in water and sanitation facilities for beneficiary schools underscores its commitment to comprehensive health education, enhancing quality of life and building thriving communities.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday, Victoria Uwadoka, Nestlé Nigeria’s Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, said: “We’re delighted that over 850 individuals, including their educators and learners and the families within this community will now have access to water and sanitation facilities.

L-R: Mr Oseni Sakiru, representing the Program Manager, Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency; Mrs Adedotun Ogunleye, Zonal Education Officer, Ado Odo Ota, representing the Ogun State Honorable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology; Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC; Rev. Dr Clement Ogunbisi, Baale of Ketu Adie Owie community, Ado Odo Ota, Ogun State and Hon. Isiaka Aderohunmu, representing the Executive Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board during the presentation of WASH facilities at LG Primary School, Adie Owe, Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government of Ogun State.

“At Nestlé, we recognise the need to teach children about nutrition from an early age to enable them make healthier choices.

“We recognise that maintaining appropriate hygiene standards and practices which is one of the pillars of N4HK is very difficult in the absence of basic water and sanitation facilities.

“Nestlé For Healthier Kids’ addresses this means by promoting healthy nutrition and hydration, hygiene and active lifestyle

“Therefore, we have invested in providing access to water and sanitation facilities in the N4HK beneficiary schools.

“ In Ogun State alone, we have completed and commissioned facilities in ten schools, serving 4,000 learners and educators as well as members of the immediate communities.

“The commissioning today is very significant as it is one more achievement towards our resolve to make access to water a reality in every school within the N4HK program, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6), – ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,’’ she added.

Expressing her gratitude, Darasinmi Agunbiade, a primary 5 learner in the school, said, “I am very happy that we no longer have to endure long treks for water.

“ Previously, we only had one toilet, but now, with the separate facilities for girls and boys, practicing what we learn during the hygiene sessions in N4HK classes becomes much easier. Thank you Nestlé”.

The Traditional Leader (Baale) of Ketu Ade Iwoye, Chief Clement Ogunbisi, in a welcome address, appreciated Nestlé for providing the sanitation facility and urged Nestlé to do more.

“ I hereby tender my appreciation letter to Nestlé. Thank you very much,” the Baale said.

The Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, was represented by Mrs Adedotun Ogunleye, Zonal Education Officer for Ado Odo Ota.

Arigbabu commended Nestlé for partnering the Ogun State Government on the provision of facilities for public schools.

“The sustained partnership with Nestlé Nigeria in promoting a conducive and sustainable environment for education is highly commendable.

“We appreciate the company for conceptualizing this noble idea of provision of water and sanitation facilities in schools, which is aimed at providing a healthier environment for the safety of our children”, he said.

Also, the Board Chairperson of Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Femi Majekodunmi, was represented by Honorable Isiaka Aderohunmu, Permanent Member 2, Ogun SUBEB.

He said: “It is gratifying to note that over the years, Nestlé, through her flagship program, Nestlé for Healthier Kids, has successfully implemented various developmental school programmes and projects across the 20 beneficiary schools in 4 local government areas of the state.

“This laudable gesture of donation of water and sanitation facilities would go a long way to boost the morale of learners and teachers and provide opportunity for the children to learn in a conducive environment”.

“I call on the School-based Management Committee (SBMC), Parents Teachers Association (PTA), teachers and learners to make good use of the facilities and make sure they are well secured and preserved”, he added.

NAN also reports that Nestlé Nigeria had earlier in February 2024, handed over a Water and Sanitation Facility at Wesley School 2, Sagamu, Ogun State to the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board and the community.

This brings the total number of facilities the company has built across the country to twenty.

The absence, inadequacy, or mismanagement of water and sanitation services pose significant health risks, impeding human well-being and hindering social and economic development.

Recurrent instances of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) related illnesses among children contribute to school absenteeism and malnutrition.

As outlined in Goal 6 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene remains a global imperative.

The World Bank estimates that 70 million Nigerians lack access to safe drinking water, and 114 million lack access to basic sanitation facilities.

The provision of WASH facilities is, therefore, in line with the fact that water, sanitation, and hygiene are fundamental human rights crucial for favorable outcomes in education, nutrition, health, livelihoods, and community socioeconomic development. (www.nannews.)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

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